Calypso in the 1970s

Lord Kitchener dominated the Road March competition during this decade by winning the title five times. The only other calypsonian to win the Road March title more than once was Calypso Rose (2) who, in 1977, became the first female calypsonian to win a calypso title. As a result of Calypso Rose's accomplishment, the calypso titles were changed from "King" to "Monarch." The ten Calypso Crowns were won by six calypsonians with the Mighty Sparrow (3), Mighty Duke (2), and Chalkdust (2) winning the title more than once. In addition to the winners listed below, other calypsonians who had hit songs during the 1970s include The Merchant.

Lord Kitchener composed and sang calypsoes that dominated the steelband Panorama competition during the 1970s. Panorama winners played Kitchener's Margie (1970), Play Mas (1971), St. Thomas Girl (1972), Rainorama (1973), Jericho (1974), Tribute to Spree Simon (1975), Pan in Harmony (1976), and Hasely Crawford (1977). The Mighty Sparrow's Queen of the Bands (1971) and Du Du Yemi (1978) were the only other calypsoes played by Panorama winners during this decade. However, the latter part of the decade saw the emergence of several young calypsonians who began to wrest the calypso spotlight away from the Lord Kitchener and the Mighty Sparrow, after almost two decades of their dominance.

The 1970s saw the emergence of calypso composers who specialized in songwriting only. One such specialist who composed calypsoes for many calypsonians during this decade was Winsford Devine. The following are the results of both the Road March and Calypso Crown competition.

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